Due to the nature of my job, lately I have met more and more people whose country of origin is different than the country we have met. It is all about the diversity and the open-doors policy of the European Union, and we should all be happy and thankful for this.
We live in 2015, and the national boundaries are no longer what they used to be 20-25 years ago. People can travel with no visas and it is a matter of booking your ticket (most often airplane ticket) and go to the destination that you want.
If we look from the economic point of view, especially for tourism and hospitality industry this for sure is great selling tool and has helped a lot of hotels and restaurants to keep their numbers up through the years. If we talk about permanent moving and settling down, the situation is not that simple and it could be said that this brings more complications, rather than making people’s life happier and easier.
Before the revolution in 1989-1990, and the falling down of communism many Eastern Europeans literally lost their lives in trying to escape their home countries in search for a better future. It was not easy even to go on a short weekend break, as the Iron Curtain limited the areas that one person could visit… But as we know from experience, when there is a ban for something, people tend to spend more power in overcoming this ban. This the reason why those who were the economic runaways (refugees) back then are still in their “new home countries” and have easily adapted to their new lives. They had no other option and no way back than to adjust to the new reality and re-start their lives.
After the EU expansion towards Eastern Europe and the addition of almost all the countries which were in the communist union block, travelling became much easier. People only had to book their ticket, pack their luggage and settle in their new home countries, some of them for a short period of time, others for longer.
It took some time, before the EU realize that this was actually a problem of the old member states as they were “invaded” by people who didn’t really know what to do, but determined in getting as much as possible from the benefits of the local societies, and social security systems.
Slowly this was fixed and now it is not that easy to “pack, go and settle”, but still many people are dreaming on escaping their home countries and settling in a country with better economic numbers.
There is nothing wrong with that, as long you prepare yourself in advance, have the full understanding that you are the “new comer”, and open to adapt as soon as possible.
I fully support those who have the will, the power and are strong enough to take such step. It is not easy to say Good Bye to your current life – friends, habits, relatives and go to a country that you have probably never been before. Many people make this step, not because of their pure will, but because they have friends who are living there already for some years. This makes their choice, not something they want, but something they could have as an option. As the times pass by, this becomes a problem and people are not easily adapting to their new homes and more often feeling homesick.
I meet two types of people – those who are happy with their new lives and don’t really pay attention to what is happening in their countries of origin, and those who somehow regret their choice, but are in a situation where if they go back their friends will call them losers, and it will take some time to re-adapt. The second group is even greater compared to the first group. And I have to tell you, I am meeting well educated people, who have decent jobs and live in good neighborhoods.
“It would be great if we have a solution for every single case, but we don’t.”
So what I can suggest is the following – if you are in your 20’s, 30’s or even 40’s, go out of your home country – live, work and explore. It could be for 2-3 years or even up to 10 years in some particular cases, but then go back to your home country and imply all that you uplift in your resume – knowledge, abilities and skills. For sure you will have a better position, compared to the local market and will have a better monthly package that will allow you to live a comfortable life. In most cases, you will work again with the same country representatives (on high rank positions) as from the country you came back from. The difference is that your abilities and skills will be valued higher and at the same time you will be in your home environment.
This will give you a good self-esteem, self-confidence and above all respect by others. We all want to have a good life where we can afford to live like “the normal people”, but do we really appreciate what we have and do we really have a plan for that? Most of us are living our lives like we have no other choices and let ourselves follow the circumstances and not to be the leading part.
Create your own path.
If you really want to go out of your country and settle down in another country – do it. It is no longer that difficult, just pay attention to the local customs, adapt yourself to the new rules by integrating yourself and live your life as per the local regulations. Remember where you come from and bring all the positive habits to your new home.
Whatever choices you make – they have to be based only on your personal beliefs and not dictated by other people. The boundaries are no longer physical; they are only in your mind.
“Open the door and go.”
